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After having housed the original "Batmobile" since 1966, George Barris says it's time to put the legendary crime-fighting machine on the auction block. The Batmobile will leave the shop Tuesday and head to Scottsdale for auction. Michelle Valles reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2012. (Published Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012)

Mastermind behind the legendary Batmobile, the King of Kustomizers said it’s time to put the crime-fighting (sort of) machine up for auction.

"We as, as our family, that we would like to share it worldwide," said Batmobile owner George Barris.

It hits the auction block in January, set to leave its home since 1966 at Barris Kustom City shop in Riverside.

"It will always be a Barris Batmobile and the main concern is that it really goes to the right owner that can share it with the world forever," said Goji Barris, George’s daughter.

The original one-off 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car was originally created by Ford Motor Company and a design team at the Lincoln Styling Department, according to Barris' website. The 19-foot long, two-seat, bubble-topped grand touring car prototype was entirely hand-built in 1954 by Ghia Body Works in Turin, Italy.

Ford sold it to Barris for $1. In 1965, 20th Century Fox gave him three weeks and $15,000 to turn it into the Batmobile.

All of Batman’s gadgets were courtesy of Barris' imagination and the result was the first time a car became a star. And for those interested in making a bid: the car comes, of course, complete with a Bat Phone.

The Batmobile will leave Barris Kustom City shop on Tuesday, when it will be put on a trailer and taken to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the auction.